In Kerala

We arrived in a touristy mountain town in Kerala this afternoon. We're staying at Hotel Rolex conveniently located near a wildlife reserve a few miles down the road. We went on a long boat ride today in the reserve's resevoir. The ride was slow-going and many of our tired minds had some difficulty enjoying the trip for 2 hours.

I have had little inspiration to maintain this blog here in India. I have read several books here including The Guide, The Alchemist, and some writings of Swami Vivekananda. I have written several songs and I'm learning a lot about myself and the world. India is mind, heart, soul awakening and I am grateful that I am here.

Some of the group will split up next tuesday, the 18th, as some of us move on to the beach state of Goa. We're looking for a hotel and we're planning on sleeping in, not sight seeing, and staying up late. The structure of this portion of the trip has been eventful and rewarding, but we're ready to listen to our body clocks on a beach.

After Goa, I'll be getting on a flight headed to London. I talked to my friend the pilot today and he said he would know soon if he could change my flight to Paris. I hope to hear from him tonight or tomorrow. If I fly to London, I will take the chunnell to paris on the 27th of November and fly to Stockholm on the 29th. I'll stay in Stockholm for two nights with an american/swedish couple and then take a train to Narvik, Norway. From there I'll take a bus to Tromso. I've received word that the northern lights were spotted last night! I hope to see them there too. If I can get a job there, perhaps I'll stay in that arctic town for a month or two. This will be hard without a visa but not impossible.

Things are looking good. I feel great. Love to all.

just heard!

barack obamaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!

we arrived back in bangalore an hour ago and soon we're headed for catholic mass in the center of the city. dr. guru says its one of his favorite things to do on these india trips.

i don't have time to write now - gotta hit the showers after a long bus ride. but i just wanted to publicly display my joy for our newly elected president of the united states of america. now the real work can begin!

love!

journal entry 10/28/08

Back in Sirigere at Swamiji's crib. played music tonight on the roof, really let 'er rip - passionately. swamijii played his violin. we sat on a well-lit stage, heard foxes howling. left Hampi today, said farewell to the shopowners who call us their friends when we give them money. waited an hour for dinner last night - played 'would you rather' with jane, matt, dale, and emma, bought elephant paintings on dyed cloth after dinner. meditated on rocks at a temple with Baba (and darroll the guru). beautiful, ancient rock-mountains underneat sunset-orange sky. remember the singing columns - solid stone sounds like a jembay. napped on a rock in the sun in a centuries-old city center of Hampi - once buried under the mud now behind bars and ticket-taking gaurds. gave coins to some beautiful boys before i realized what game they were playing and what role i had. bought too much. consumerism is materialistic consumerism no matter what country i'm in or how much it costs. remember the world.

took pictures of beautiful children. held a baby by the river.

stomach hurts after i eat for a little while. not taking malaria pills. namaste. learning everyday. reading The Guide. listening to jillian giggle. they made hacky sacks for the boys here in sirigere.

yes, michael, india will change me.

everything i think about somebody else, every time i condemn someone for saying something, doing something inconsiderate or innappropriate, i imagine myself doing the same thing. and i am. by seeing 'them' i am seeing myself more clearly. we are all light and we have all been on this planet and in this universe for billions of years. we've got to get ourselves back to the garden.